I Tried the New and Improved Burger King Whopper—And It's Nothing Like I Remember

Today, Burger King announced it was updating its signature sandwich, the Whopper, for the first time in 10 years. The big changes: a better, more premium bun and thicker, creamier mayo, served in a sturdy cardboard box instead of flimsy white paper.

But before the new Whopper was even announced, I got to try it myself. And it happened completely by accident.

My Accidental Whopper Taste Test

Last night, I went to my friend's apartment to watch the three-hour premiere of Survivor. While we snacked on cheese and Hot Honey Pringles, I left feeling hungry. As I walked home, I passed the Burger King. And I looked at my watch—there were still 20 minutes left of Whopper Wednesday.

Every Wednesday, Burger King offers Whoppers for $3.99 when you order through the app. The timing felt like fate. Having a Whopper last night was my destiny.

My first thought when they handed me the bag:
"This is a big bag for only one thing." When I opened the bag, I realized why. Instead of the traditional wrapping paper, this Whopper was served in a box.

"Well that's going to make it harder to eat while walking," I said to myself as I opened the box.

But opening the box felt like opening an oyster and finding a pearl. Instead of the (very) flat Whopper I'd come to know and tolerate, this burger looked like something you'd get at a gastropub. The bun was plump and fluffy, coated in seeds, and had a darker, more well done finish. The back half of the burger was wrapped in paper — more premium paper than the old Whopper — so I could still eat it while walking without it falling apart.

"Oh, that's fancy!" I exclaimed out loud as a group of people walked by and stared at me.

Because the bun had more volume, it accentuated the burger's toppings and made it look like it was stacked higher. It was very visually appealing — something I wasn't expecting from my midnight snack at Burger King.

My first bite definitely tasted better than I was anticipating. The patty and toppings were the same, but I noticed the mayo seemed to be thicker, like the mayo I used at home. While I personally would've preferred it to be a bit lighter on the mayonnaise, it definitely added more flavor to the overall burger. The bun, though, made the biggest difference. It was fluffy and substantial, especially compared to the sad, flat Whopper bun of yesteryear.

I finished the burger as I turned the corner of my block, feeling strangely satisfied. "Wow. That was really good," I said out loud to myself as another stranger passed by and stared at me. "I should get Whoppers more often."

Why Burger King Changed the Whopper

Burger King President Tom Curtis recently began taking calls and texts from customers, eager to hear their feedback. One of the most common complaints? The Whopper just didn't hold up.

“So the Whopper being smushed, literally, I’ve heard it… and we’ve seen it,” Curtis told CNN. "(We) improved packaging that kind of holds it together."

The premium ingredients come at a cost, though. The new and improved Whopper will cost franchisees $4,000 more per year. However, the company advised them to keep offering a better burger at the same cost rather than pass the cost on to consumers.